[Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and retinal tear with intravitreous hemorrhage]

A retrospective study was conducted on a series of 28 eyes with primary retinal tears associated with vitreous hemorrhage. At initial presentation, the retina was detached in 17 eyes and attached in 11. In the series of eyes with an attached retina, the vitreous hemorrhage was massive in 5 eyes (45%), the average number of retinal tears was 1.36. All eyes showed a retinal tear located in the upper quadrants. Three patients (27%) experienced recurrent vitreous hemorrhage after sealing of the retinal tears. In the series of eyes with a detached retina, the vitreous hemorrhage was massive in 5 eyes (29%) and the average number of retinal tears was 1.9. The retinal detachment was located in the upper quadrants in 16 eyes (94%). Clinical evidence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy was noted, at initial presentation, in 6 eyes (35%). Permanent retinal reattachment was achieved in only 12 eyes (70%). All surgical failures were related to proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In the present series the prognosis of primary retinal tears with significant vitreous hemorrhage was guarded because of recurrent vitreous hemorrhages. The prognosis of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with significant vitreous hemorrhage at initial presentation was guarded because of the high incidence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.